Sony Online Entertainment

Sony Online Entertainment is a company that makes video games

Edit this Page

EDIT BLURB SUBSCRIBE page last edited on Oct. 10, 2008

Sony Online Entertainment is first party developer best known for their popular MMOs such as Everquest and Star Wars Galaxies.

Sony Online Entertainment was founded in 1998 in order to develop Sony's first massively multiplayer online game, Everquest. Everquest launched on March 16, 1999 and quickly became a huge success. Everquest would soon become one of the most popular MMOs of all-time. A year later, Sony Online released the first of 13 Everquest expansion packs, Ruins of Kunark.

In 2003, Sony Online launched their second MMO, Star Wars Galaxies. Galaxies was another success for Sony though it would never reach the level of Everquest. Star Wars Galaxies would spawn 3 expansions of its own, Jump to Lightspeed, Rage of the Wookies, and Trials of Obi-Wan. In the same year, Sony released another MMO, PlanetSide. PlanetSide was the first MMOFPS (first person massively multiplayer online game). The game was not much of success though two expansions, Core Combat and Aftershock, were released. Sony also released the first console MMO, Everquest Online Adventures for the PlayStation 2. The game was also not a success though one expansion was released, Frontiers.

On November 9, 2004 Sony Online launched Everquest 2. Like the original, Everquest 2 was a huge success and spawned 7 expansion packs. Soon after the launch, Sony Online announced Station Publishing, a label for distributing titles made by external developers.

Sony Online has also released various Everquest spin-offs. Sony Online released Lords of Everquest, a real time strategy game in 2003. As well, as Champions of Norrath, an action RPG, in 2004 along with its sequel, Champions: Return to Arms in 2005.

In August 2005, Sony Online acquired the rights to Warner Brothers MMO, The Matrix Online under the Station Publishing label. A year later, Sony Online oversaw distribution, marketing, technical support and server maintaining of the Sigil Games Online MMO, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Though Sony Online later acquired the full rights to the game. Later in the year, Sony Online released their first title not tied to an already existing MMO franchise, Field Commander, a turn based tactics game for the PSP. Also, in 2006, Sony Online acquired casual MMO developer Worlds Apart Productions which was renamed SOE Denver. Finally, in November 2006, Sony Online released PlayStation 3 launch title, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.

In 2007, Sony Online purchased the rights to develop several classic Midway games on the PlayStation Network. Sony released Mortal Kombat II, Gauntlet II, Joust, Rampage World Tour, Rampart and Championship Sprint.

Currently, Sony Online is working on spy MMO The Agency and a MMO based on the graphic novel, Ramayan 3392 A.D.